Ice machine



Nov. 4, 1952 F. w. KNOWLES 2,616,271

ICE MACHINE Filed March 20, 1959 4 Sheet s-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Frank W. Knowles ATTORNEY.

F. W. KNOWLES Nov. 4, 1952 ICE MACHINE 4 SheetsSheet 2 Filed March 20, 1939 INVENTOR. Frank W. Knowles ATTORNEY.

Nov. 4, 1952 F. w. KNOWLES 2,616,271

ICE MACHINE Filed March 20, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheec 3 M(im ATTORNEY v Nov. 4, 1952 F. w. KNOWLES ICE MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 20, 1939 INVENTOR. Frank W. Knowles Patented Nov. 4, 1952 ICE MACHINE Frank W. Knowlesi Seattle, Wash., assignor t Beltice Corporation, a corporation of Washington Applicatiou March 20, 1939, Serial N6. 262,869

Clainis. (01. 62-406) The present invention relates 130 heat transfer devices. In particular the devicerelate's to the art cf refrigeration but some of the features are of a broader use, such as in the drier and concentrating arts. 1

In more particular the device relates to th art of solidifying thin sheets of material upon' a surfaee and of removing the material from th'21t surface. Examples are the making of thin shee ts of ice, frozen fruits or fruit juices, glue, dried mi1k, or other material. Such materials have, in the past, been solidified upon drums and scraped. therefrom, and solidified upon endless belts and scraped therefrom or removed frofn adhesion to the belt by flexing, o1 changing the curvature of the belt. v

Removal from a belt by fiexing, where applicab1e to a, particular type 015 material, is more stisfactory than by scraping from a drum. 'Ihe scraping of a drum requires a scraper, entails wear on the drum and scraper, and. is a, constant source 015 expense and adjustment.

S0raping a belt; has the same'disadvantages as scraping a drum. However, the use of a halt as compared to a drum has disadvantages in that the temperature of a drum may be easily controlled, and the heat transfer from the drum to the material is direct and usually good. These features are not Iound in the ordinary belt heat transfer device. Also, in the be1t device, in many installations, mat'erial collects between the belt and the drum, reducing the rate Cf heat transfer and if the be1t is tight and of meta1 permanently deforming and ruining the belt forthe desired.

use.

It is an object of ehe present invention to provide a device using an endless belt which will have the high heat conductivity of a drum.

It is a finthe'r object of theinvention to provide a device using an endless be1t, and which device will be so constructed that material cann0t col1ect and sci1idify between the belt; and the drum, drums, oi rollers upon which the be1t is supported. V

II: is a. further' object of the present invention to provide a dvice using an endless belt in which the end operiings 0f the belt are cl osed, or sealed.

It is another 0bject of the invention to pro- CJI vide a heat' transfer device using an endless belt. in contact with a heat transfer drum, and us'ing a highly heat conductive liquid between the belt and drum to increase the rate of heat transfer therebtweeh.

II; is a iurther object cf the inventionto provide a device using an endless belt in contact with a drum, circular end plates closing the end openings of the belt, and a flexible connection between the disks and the belt to a11ow the curvature of the be1t 110 be varied. v

It is a further and more specific object of the present invention to provide means for preventing.the freezing of moisture between arefrigerated drum and a hell: in contact with the drum.

II: isa further object of the invention to pro.-

vide the interior of a drum with baflles which will spread a, refrigerant over the walls of the drum.

II: is a further object of the invention to form sheets cf ice on one side of a belt without -condensation on the other.

These objects and others are attained by means of the herein described devices, wherein: an end- 1ess metallic belt is placed around and in comtact with a 1arge portion of the face of a drum, a roher or rollers guide the belt so that its curvature will bevaried and any 'material adhering thereto separated therefrom, means are provided for sealing and closing the end openings, a, liquid is provided between the belt and drum to increase the heat conductivity, and. means are provided for either preventing the freezing of moisture between the drum and be1t or means are provided for removing any moisture from therebetween.

Devices constructed in accordance With the above are hereinafter described in detail and are shovvn in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form cf my device.

Figure 2 is a plan section Of the device shown in Figure 1 and is taken on the 1ine 2-2 of Figure 3.

Figure 3 is a ful1 seccion on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section taken -on the 1ine 44 of Figure 5 showing a modified form of my device.

Figure 5 is a fu11 transverse section on the 1ine 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section on the line 6--6 of Figure 7 showing another modified form of my device.

Figure 7 is a fu1l section on the line 'I-'I 015 Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a partial section through a drum and belt showing a modified form of sea1.v

Figures 1, 2 and 3 Referring to Figures 1, 2, and 3: Projecting upwardly from a base I are two columns 2 and 3 which have secured against rotation in their upper ends sleeve bearings 4 and 5. Mounted for rotationin these bearings are the shafts 6 and I, or trunnions, of a closed metallic dru'iii 8. II the drum is used as a boiler for a refrigerant, such is admitted through a feed pipe 9; and removed through a suction pipe II). These pipes nass through thetrunnion 6 but do 'not rotate as they are he1d stationary by any suitable means. v A packing gland II is arranged on the outer end cf the trunnion 6 to With theaid of suitable packing prevent the leakage of the air or refrigerant between the section pipe and-1 the trunnion. The other trunnion Eis used 1301mtate the drum inits bearings. This trunnion I -ma-y be solid or. at least.closed ofi from the interior' 0f the.drump The drive may be had by anysuit'able means through a gear or sprocket I'2-mounted on the'solid=trunnion I. The speed of rotation of the drum is 10W, around two to five revoltions per minute, depending upon the factors involved. On the interir of the drumwall and evaporate therefrom. This increases the area and rate of evaporation of the refrigerant. The refrigerant may fi11 the drum to or above its center.

Secured to the hol-low trunnion bearing 4 and placed adja'centthe drum isa'n arm I5. A similar arm I6 is secured in a similar manner and position to the drive trunnion bearing 5. AI: ehe outer ends of these arms are carried bearings I'I -and I8. These bearings ca;rry a roll I9 which is placed close 130 the drum. Around thedrum 8 and the roll I9 is placed an endless metallic bel-t2. This belt may be of steel, copper, er other suitab'le highly heat conductive material. The beltmay ice made 130 track by crowning the drum er the roll, or both, by placing a Straight sided bead on the edge 0f the dr-um along the edgq of -the be1t, or by"se'0uring -to the underside ofythe be1t adjacent to; th'edrum V-shaped g'uides 21 and 22. These guides may be made of rubber-ized fabric and secured to the be1t by oement or rivets. The corners cf the drum adjaoent the guides -may be bevele'd ab the same angle a-s I7he 0ppos'ed side facs of the gu'ides. The bearing supports for the roll are corlstructed t'o allow for their adjustment 110 and away from I:he drum to tension the belt. Placed ar'ound I:he bearing 4 and adjacnt I:he end of thed'rum isa ci'rculr end plate 23. The p1ate*has fastened 110 it a short s1eeve 24 ha.ving asSociated with it a 'packing g1and 25. The shor.t sl'eeve and gland are constructed 1:0 freely rdtate on the bearing I. An end plate 26, short sleeve; 21, and packing gland 28 *simi1ar to those just described, are arranged on the opposite bearing and 'adjacent of the other end of Iihe drum. The edges of the end p1ates 23 and2 are integrated With the adjacentedgia poftfonsnf IJhe beltbjr s'e'c'uring b'etweeme'ach 'plate and'fihe be1t a rubber skirt, 29 .and 3B. These rubb6r* skifts may be secured 130 the belt b3* means fcem'ehts o1 vulcanizing. Sma1l holes may be mit inth edgeof the belt to im3reasa the hold of'the"rubber to the belt. The r'ubb'r skirts may be 'sec1'1red to the disk by means of clamping straps, 3I and 32, or in the sar'nemanner a's to 'the belt. Movement of the be1t ca-rries the end p1ates.around Wi'th -it Iihro'ugh i'tis puu o'f1 'th'e skirts; 29 ;anl 30.

A Quntity' 0f li'ci'ui'd 33 Such as e'iihnl} 6Ihyler'i'e glycbl, propmne Jly'col, or dtheir sitlalble Iitiuid hving a W fifejzi-h poiriIa, fhih }th6lrxhall conducfiivity, andiiyggosppbic qualitigzsis placed in -tlhe space betW6en the dru'm gandthg belt, and =the end closure p1ates and the rubber skir-ts. In I;he operation -of -thef device, uplessprevented, mois'ture tends to bbl-lect between1g he belt and the drum and *to freeze -there. The ice thus frmed graduafly builds up until it is sufficient 120 deform and injure -t-he belt-. Also, b-his ice decre'a;ses the rafeof heat condudtionfrom the belt to the drum. The sea;lirlg of the -volume inside the belt from :the atmosphere, a=nd th'e us'e of 1'nea'nS, suchas the liquids natned 'above', fr prev"efiting the solidific'ation bf any moisture th2: 'may be thdrmainhievents this ti011ble. Frthermore, whether used as a refrigerator -or -heater, the u'se of 'sucha; liquid 'asset 'fo'rth abdv'e increases the reite of heat condtuztion between the belt and the drum.

Placed below the drum and extending up above IJhe lowest part thereof is a pan 34. This pan is filled With wat er 35 01' othe1 material or liquid which it is desird to treat, until the drum is partly immersied. A float control may be used to keep the height of the liquid constant.

Placed adjacent but slightly after, in the direction of be1t trave1, the place 36 where the be1t leaves the drum, is a breaking roll 3'I. 'Ihis roll may be made of rubber. By varying the distance of this roll from thebelt or its pressure upon the be1t 01 upon the material solidified on the be1t, the size of the pieces into which the material is broken may be contro1led. The breaking roll may be supported in bearings 38 and 39-, each carried. in an arm, 49 and M, pivoted about the trunnion bea-rings and 5 by being secured loose collars.

Wioh a proper -compressor radiator, and cantrol means c0nnected to the pipes 9 and II), and in 0pera'tion to refrigerate the-drum, the performance of the device for forming sma1l flat pieces of ice is as follows: A mot'or rotates the drum at a s1ow speed and water fills the ta-nk to contact the drum. As the temperature*of the drum is lowered waoer from the tank Will form a thin film of ice on the belt. The thickness cf the film is controlled by the temperature of the drum, the height of the water in the tank, the temperature of the water, and the speed of rotation 0f the drum; II: may also -be desirable to regulat-e the final temperature of the ice. This maybe d0n by controlling the temperatur'e a.nd speed of the drum. If the on1y factor varied is the water leve'l, then the temperature of the ice will be inversely proportional to i-ts thickness. The rate at which ice may be made will be determined by the capac-it5'r cf the refrigera-tion plant and therate of 'heat c'onduction through the' be1t and drum. When the thin she'et '0f ice formed onthe belt comes to the point 36 Where the belt leaves 'the drum, the ice will be broken from close adhesion to' ehe lo'e1t by the change in curvature of the belt. The reason for this is that the- -forces holding the ice to the be1t are less than theforces=tending to keep the ice in a curvedshape. The 'weight '0f the breaking roll 31 will reduce the sizecf t-he ice chips. The size may in a large degreehe controlled by the Weight cf t-he breakin'g roll 'or its spaci'rig from the be li The-broken pieces 0'f ice fal1 off the belt over the tensioning roll I9 i-nto any 'suitable receptacle er chute. Refrigeration is increased by the baflles I3 yvhich ca rry a ref-rigerant- IZ up alongthe Walls of; the drum and allow -th'e liquid t;o =triekle throfugh the weep holes I4 anal down the wal1. 'I -his increa ses the evaporation area and places that area directly on the vva110f the dr-um.

- The ;ate 0f hea1: transfer is increased by the liquid 33inside of the halt forming a film between the belt and the drum, which film inCreas'es the bongi 0If contact therebetween anal, hence, the rate-ofheat transfer between the drum and b@1t Also, this liquid by -absorbing the 'moisture inSi'de cf the be1t prevents the formation of ice on the drum. If Iumps of ice form between the hell: and drum, the be1t will be deformed and ruined.

103 whichsiipport bearings 104 and 105 in their upper porbions. Mounced fo'r rotation in these bearings a1'e thetrunhions drum 108. The trunnion 106 is hollow and the trunnion 101 is solid. Tbis drum is similar 170 thepreviously described drum 8 and may operate in a 'similar manner as a. boiler for the refrig. era.nt er as a heater. The refrigerar'it isadmitted to the drum through an inlet pipe 109 and removed from the drum through the suction pipe 110. The two pipes are-concentric, the suction pipe beingthe uter pipe. Both pipes enter tlie drum through the hollow trunnion 106. A packihg gland 111 is arranged 0n the outer end cf the hollow tmrmion 106 1:0 provide a seal for prevenoing leak age of air or refrigerant between the suction pipe and the trunnion. The solid trunnion is used to rota1ie the drum in its bearings. This drive may be ha.d through a gear I 12 m'ont'ed on the solid trunnion and drivenfby any suitable means. On the interior cf the drum are=' refrigerant distributing bafiles 113. These baffles are provided with wep holes 114.

Around the drum is placed an endlesg metallic belt 120. This belt is greater in length than the circumference of the drum by about five inches. The belt may be made 110 run true on the drum by any one of the previously mentioned means. In the present embodiment V-shaped guicles 121 and 122 are again used. The end openings of the belt are closed by means of disks, er plates. One ope'ning is closed by a. platze 123, a sleeve 124 and pcldng gland 125, as part thereof, end the other obening is closed by another disk 126, short sleeve 12'1, and packing gland 128. The edges of the disks are integratedwith the adjacent edges of the belt in the same manner as in the previously described device by the use of rubber skirts 129 and 130, and cement o1 vulcanizing, and clampim; strijas 131 and 132. Also; a. quantity of liquid 133 similar 170 the previously described liquid 33, is placed between the drum and the belt, and in the space inside the belt.

Spaced around the drum and in contact with the belt are three 101ls. Two of these rolls cause the belt 170 bulge and change curvature a1: a point 136 adjacent one of the rolls. This later roll 131 is driven from the same power source as the drum. Th'is is accomplished by placing on the driving trunnion 107 a gear 150 in mesh With a gear 151 011 a shaft 152, which shaft carries the roll 131 which it is desired to drive. The shaft 152 is bearinged in the uprights 102 and 103. These geu's are designed so that the peripheral speed 015 the roll is slightly greater than the speed of the drum. In the modification shown, this driven roll has been placed near but past the W point ofthe drum. Near this driven roll and af1;er it 106 and 101 of a closed.

relative 110 the travel of the belt is placecl another roll 154 incoritact wioh th belt. 'Ihis roll 154 i'stermed an anchor roll and is turned by couta'irt with the belt or-the material of the belt. The result of the operation of this construction will be' tha1: the extra length of the belt over the peripheral le ngth of the drum will app aar as a bulge between these two rolls, 131 and 154. This bulge will cause the brittle material adhering to the belt 110 be broken therefrom a1; this place 136 where the curvatureof "the hell, changes as i1: passes around the bulge The rolls are rubber covered so that they will yi eld to irregi1lariiqies in'the belt and drum, and t'gygiations in the thickness of the material on the b'elt. The eh ds 155 and 156 of the roll 154 may be constructe'd larger than the cencral portions. The result of this construetion is tha1; the trough formed by the roll and the belt will have end Walls. This trough may be used f0i applying m'aterial to the belt, the material being plaeed in the trough from where it spreads up0n the belt.

Another feeding roll 157 similar to the roll 154 may be placed after the anchor roll 154 1:0 aid iri applying inore material the belt. This secohd feeding roll may have large ends' 158 and 159 similar 170 the large ends of the anchor roll 154. Material may also be applied 1:0 the bel1; by spraying thereon by means of a spray pipe 160, 01 a tank similar the one shown in connection With the device shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3 may be used. A chute 161 may be used for conduc'ztin the flakes of ice avvay from the drum.

The operation of this device is similar to the one shown in Figures l 2, and 3. A heat transfer liquid 142, or gas, being placed in the drum and the drum being brought 120 the proper temperaturegmaterial placed in the troughs formed by the rolls 154 and 151 will be picked up by the belt as it is carried around by the drum. In the course of this movement of the material it will be solidified by the conduction of heat toor from the material. 'Ihis sheet of material will pass under the roll 137 and as the curvature of the belt varies from that of the curvature of the drum, the adhesion of the material the drum will be broken. The weight of the material, the continued change in curvature of the belt, and the pressure of the driven roll Will cause the sheet of material as it leaves the belt to be broken inod small pieces. These pieces will be conducted from the device by the chute 161. The driving of the roll 131 at a peripheral speed faster than the speed of the belt Will cause the belt 130 be tensioned through the longest distance between the anchor sind driven rolls, and Will cause the bulge through the short distance between the driven roll 137 and the adjacent anchor roll 154. The feeding action of the anchor roll 154 and the feeding roll 151, prevents material from being' spread the full Width 015 the belt. This i's desirable as it keeps the ends of the device free from the material and it prevents the material gradually working into and breaking the seal of the rubber skirts 129 and 130 and the belt.

I1; Will be noted that the 10W point of the drum is reached before the ice or other material is broken from the belt, and that the edges of. the.

belt extend over the edges of the drum. B-y having the edge of the hell: extend a considerable dis tance over the edge of the drum, the solidification of materia)l on the edge Cf the belt is prevented as there is laut poor heat conduction 130 or from this area. Any liquid material on this area adjacpent the edge of the belt will tend to leayze the belo at the 10W point cf the belt and to thereby be separated from the solid material. This construction shown in Figures 4 anti 5 is,- as-compared to th previous one, simpler in that the tensioning roll inside cf the device is dispensed with. Also, the displacement of the belt' from the drum may be less, hence, the strain on the seals is lass. The present construction is simpler and easier of adjustment. 1 -The use of the liquid 133 inside of th belt, such liquid having: a lowfreezing pointya high boiling point, and hygroscopic properties, increases the rate of heat transfer and prevents the solidification of moisture between the belt and the drum.

v 'contact the belt.

In Figure 3 the drum 308 has a belt 320 around it. Adjacent the end of the drum is an end plate 323 which is moved with the drum around its axis by mean of the annular metallic seal 329 made up of a thin sheet of flexible metal. The seal niay be integrated with the belt by means of rivets 331 er brazing, er both. Instead of one corrugation, as" shown, the seal may have a plurality of concentric corrugations. As shown, the belt overhangs the edge of the drum by a consider'able distance. 'I'his is important for several reasohs. It prevents the solidification on the edge of the belt of the material being treated. It allows some if the Stresses set up by the deformation of the belt to break loose the solidified material, 150 be taken up by a bending of the belt over the edge of the drum. When the belt is held -centered on the drum by a crowning of the drum,

.it allows some shifting of the belt without cont'act of the drum and seal. In the present modification it, also, allows the U-shaped seal to exten d inwardly of the edge of the belt.

In. the operation of the present device, the drum, seal, and end platze will rotaoe together. The Curvature of the belt may be changed by any cf the means disclosed herein. A1: the place where the curvature of the belt is changed the fold or folds of the seal will be extended to allow for the distortion. The overhang of the hell; will also-allow for some of the distortion. Of course,

if only a single fold is used, as shown', it may extend outwardly away from the drum instead of -inwardly as shown. When the seal extends inwardly it reduces the length of the machine and allows alle belt 120 guard the seal from mechanical and the roll. Also, the drum may be perforated to lllow the refrigerant in ehe drum 130 directly The word seal has been used to designate both the flexible or sliding frictionseal and1ghe rigid end plates, as the whole end assembly serves to seal the interior volume of the hell; from die atmosphere around the belt. v

- By means of the above-described devices applicant is able to rapidly form ice flakes of various sizes and to do that at a 10W cost.

Having thus describe d my inveiition, I claim: 1. In a heat transferdevice: a.heat-transfer drum, an endless imper forate belt around and in contaet with said drum, the length of said belt being greater than the circumference of said drum, trunnions mounting said drum, end plates ce ntered on said trunnions and placed adjacent the ends of said drum, means for varying the curvature of said belt, means. for rotating said drum, and means sealing said p1ates 110 saidbelt along their respective and adjacent edges.

2. In a heat transfer device: an endless imperforace belt, means supporting said hell: for travel through an extended path having a constaut curvature and having thereinthe greaten parf; of the length of said belt, means for solidifying material upon one face of said be1t while traveling through said pa'oh, means sealing one face cf said belt from ehe other 130 prevent the solidification of material upon the other face cf said belt, and roller means contacting said first mentioned face for varying the curvature of said belt to break the adhesion of said material to said belt.

3. In a heat transfer device: a drum provided for rotation, an endless belt longer than the circuniference of said drum, around and in contact With said drum; a pair of rolls outside cf said belt and parallel 110 the axis cf rotation of said drum for holding said belt in contact with said drum; and. means for driving one of said rolls a1; a peripheral 'speed greater than that of said drum.

4. In a heat transfer device: a drum, an endless imperforate be1t around and in contact with said drum, the length of said belt being greater than the Circumference of said drum, means for solidifying material upon said belt, means for -rotatihg said drum and belt, means tensioning said belt aroimd said drum and varying the curvature of said belttobreak the adhesion cf said material 110 said belt, and means placed after the change in curvature of said belt 130 press upon the material upon said belt and break said material. y 5. In a heat trazisflr dr'evice1' a rotatable heat transfer drum, an endless -imperforate metallic belt arranged in contact with said drum, the length of said belt being greater than the circum'ference of said drum; means for varying the curvature 0f said belt, and. means sealin'g' the end openin'gs of said'belt comprising fixed end plates coex'te'nsive With the end openings, and sealing means between said belt and said end plates.'

6. In a heat trarisfer device: a heat transfer drum; anendless imperforate belt, said belt be ing longerthan the Circumfer'ence of said drum and being placed ardund and in contact with said drum; means tensio'ning said belt around said drum; means for rotating said drum and driving said beit; and end means closin'g the end openings of said'belt for forming with said bel1i a closd chamber.

7. In a heat trans'fer device: a refrigerated drum; 'anjendless imperforatebelt, said belt being longer than the ci tcumference of said drum,

and being placed around and in contact with said drum; means tensioning said belt around said drum: means for ro tating said drum and driving said hielt; end means closing the end 'orienirlgs qf'said belt for forming therewitha closed cham'bie1fi'; and means for dehydratirig any gas th a1g ina'i ybe in said chamber.

"8. In a hea't"tr'ansfer device: a heat transfer drum: an end1e'ss' imperforafie belt, said belt being longe'1 th an "ghe circumference of said drum. and being" p laced a'round and in contact with said drum;1means for tensioning said hell: aroimd said drum; means for otatirig said drum and driving said belt; end means closing the end openings 'qf s'aid belt for f qrming therewith a clos'ed chamber; and a liquid in said chamber and in contact with said belt and drum, which liquid Will remain liquid ab the operating tem- -perature in the device.

'9.Ih a heat transfer device: a refrig'erated drum; an endless imperforate belt, said hell: being longer than the circumferenbe of said drum, and 'being plamdaround and in contact with said fdrurh; means tensionihg said belii around said drur'n; ineans foi rotating said drum and driving said belt; end means closing the end 'openings o'f said belt for forming therewith a closed chamber; and an anti-freeze liquid in said chamber and in contact with said belt and drum.

10. In aheat transfer device: a drum; an endless imperfo'1ate belt:said belt being longer than the circum'ference of said drum, and being placed 

